Garden
grows away wastewater for historic home The
Old Manse, a historic 19th century residence building that was once home to American
authors Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathanial Hawthorne. It is owned by the Society
for the Protection of New England Antiquities (SPNEA). When the Old ManseÕs gift
shop and offices were expanded, an upgrade was required to the existing septic
system. Due to the siteÕs archaeological features and its proximity to the Concord
River, an advanced wastewater system was required by the local board of health.
SPNEA hired Sustainable Strategies,
a subsidiary of the Ecological Engineering Group (EEG), to design and permit a
wastewater garden treatment system. EEG designed and permitted a system that treats
blackwater and graywater separately. The system includes a one-pint flush toilet
which flushes to an EcoTech Carousel composting toilet system. Graywater and composting
toilet Leachate are pressure dosed to a wastewater garden treatment system which
provides liquid and nutrient removal prior to subsurface discharge. SPNEA was
able to maintain aesthetic characteristics of the Old Manse surroundings by planting
the washwater garden as a 19th century period garden adjacent to the Old Manse
structure, and includes the garden as a part of public tours. Unique System Features
¥ System serves as a theme garden which also provides treatment ¥ A composting
toilet system is used with design similar to a conventional toilet ¥ The majority
of wastewater effluent flow is used by the garden plants ¥ Extremely low blackwater
flow eliminates need for septic tank [Click
here to download an information sheet] |